Allerdale

Allerdale's population increased by about 2,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 96,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Allerdale increased by 3.1%, from just under 93,500 to 96,400.

The addition of just over 2,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Allerdale was home to, on average, 0.56 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the North West's third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Allerdale

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Allerdale increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This area had a higher average age than the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 14.0% of people in Allerdale are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Allerdale by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

Private renting increased in Allerdale, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas across England, except Isles of Scilly and Copeland.

Across the North West, the proportion of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15.4% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Copeland (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Allerdale) increased from 6.7% to 8.7%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (9.8%) households in Allerdale rented privately, compared with 7.5% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 20.5% to 19.1%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of privately rented homes occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 32.0% to 29.7%) followed by Copeland (from 6.7% to 8.7%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Private renting in Allerdale increased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Allerdale, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Allerdale

In 2011, 98.9% of Allerdale residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 99.4% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 94.4% to 90.2%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 0.5% of people in Allerdale said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.3% in 2001. About 0.4% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.1% to 0.1%.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Allerdale remained close to 98.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Allerdale by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Allerdale residents that were unemployed decreased from 3.9% to 3.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.9%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 50.3% in 2001. The percentage of Allerdale residents that were self-employed increased from 9.7% to 10.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Allerdale

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Allerdale was among those who said they had no religion, rising 9.8 points.

In 2011, 18.5% of respondents in Allerdale gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 8.7% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Allerdale, 80.7% said they were Christian, compared with 90.9% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 6.6% to 7.1%.

In Allerdale, 6.6% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.2% in 2001. In North West, 6.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Allerdale increased by 9.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Allerdale by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Allerdale

The percentage of Allerdale residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.1% to 6.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.5%, while the percentage of Allerdale residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.8%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Allerdale residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10.1% to 6.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79.0%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66.6% in 2001. The percentage of Allerdale residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.3% to 14.7%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Allerdale decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Allerdale, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Allerdale

The percentage of single people in Allerdale increased from 24.4% to 28.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.2%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 56.5% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Allerdale that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.4% to 11.1%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30.1% in 2001 to 35.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Allerdale working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13.1% to 9.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Allerdale decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Allerdale, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in Allerdale at a faster rate than across England.

In Allerdale, the proportion of households without children increased from 61.3% in 2001 to 63.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 61.1% to 61.2%.

Across the North West, the share of households without children increased from 59.3% to 60.8%.

The proportion of households with children in Allerdale fell from 28.0% to 25.9%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 10.7% to 10.3%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Allerdale, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 6.6% to 8.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31.1%) households had only one person, compared with 29.2% in 2001. The percentage of households in Allerdale which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 40.9% to 36.3%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Allerdale increased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Allerdale, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Allerdale residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Allerdale remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Allerdale by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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